How to Safely Mow a Hill 

Excellent subject, Neil! I had the horrifying experience of watching a neighbor from a distance lose control on a hill and have the mower totally roll over on them. Although they survived, they were left with a permanent disability. Gut wrenching memory for me, and even more so for them!

Thanks Neil, you make some great points. I appreciate hearing them again.

That’s why I have a GR 2120 for mowing my uneven property. The all wheel drive is the safest way to mow across hills in my opinion. The biggest challenge is staying on the mower.

Thank you I was always wondering how to cut on hills with a zeroturn great information giving me options

Thanks Neil. Very good suggestions. I’m thinking a follow on video on machine selection would be great. For most of our yard a zero turn would be most effective. However, for safety, we have a garden tractor with locking diff, aggressive tires, and 6 suitcase weights on the front for the hill section.

I have that exact zero turn .. minus the cab. I even bought it from Messicks. I use it all over the farm to mow. In all different terrains and hills and such. The factory turf tires where a not the best. So I swapped them out for Carlisle Versa Turf tires. Made a big difference in how it handled the hills.

Excellent video. There have been two cases of operators drowning in our local lake when their zero turns broke loose, over turned on the seawalls and pinned them underwater.

Glad to see that you are making videos for those who do not have any common sense there are tons out there! Another take away from this...if you have steep hills and are looking for a mower...do not buy a zero turn for a hilly property. You could probably by a ventrac and a 95" mower attachment for what his rig costs you and would be a lot safer. Good stuff!

Yep, we've got a tree farm that's on a decent sized hill, where quite a bit of our mowing is at an angle. We've got a Scag, but they basically all drive the same. We've figured out that UTV tires on the rear are about the best thing going, at 10-11psi. They ride nicer than lawn tires, have a big contact patch, and have a ton of traction. I still don't go forwards down steep sections, but the tires make it very manageable.

When I was a kid we had a similar hill and the riding mower drive belt slipped a LOT going uphill. We found a pattern for mowing that went up a shallower slope and down the steep one and went through a lot fewer belts.

My company have about 10 Zd1221s and we have put the tires off the smaller Bx tractors on the back of all of them and the increase in grip is incredible

Thanks for the video, My parents have hill similar to the one you have there. My Dad says it’s no big deal but it freaks me out and I haven’t even had to mow it yet.

Thanks Neal. Very informative. I have learned a lot from your videos

was surprised about you talking about cutting when grass is wet. i never cut it wet and i have no hills at all. But since i do have a small work shop and do minor maintenance on neighbor's machines , I can tell as soon as i lift them off the ground. As the grass build up 5 times worse then when they cut dry grass. and as you know the acid in the cut grass is bad for the deck. Just a thought or my .02 cents.. love your videos keep them coming

The Cub Cadet Zero turns with a steering wheel are perfect for this. It has a garden tractor type of trans rather than the independent sides like the zero turns and it has the speed and agility of a zero turn. With a zero turn on my hilly areas. I just go slow and let the mower stay settled so it doesn’t get away from me. I also don’t stop and change direction. I always stay moving forward even in tight turns so it has less chances to break away

All good points, Neil. Thanks for tackling this topic. My property is 90% hillside, so I'm seldom in a truly comfortable position. I use an LX3310 with a 72" belly mower. Initially I removed the bucket to minimize the turning radius and keep myself from slicing trees (or buildings!), but I find the tractor is a bit more planted with the bucket attached and kept relatively low. I also keep it 4WD to increase traction, although that does prevent me from turning as tight as the steering rack allows in order to protect the turf. Also, I religiously wear the seat belt, so if I do roll hopefully I'm not tossed about much. Much of my childhood was spent mowing lawns around town, and it's been 35 years since I regularly used a tractor or riding lawnmower, but my gosh the tricks and techniques returned quickly, along with the pleasure of viewing the progress and eventually the finished project. My wife doesn't understand why I enjoy spending 3 hours of my weekend mowing the lawn, but that cab is my happy place. BTW, I watched scores of your videos before buying this tractor. Wish I could have purchased it from you, but the distance is too great. Thank you for informing and entertaining us.

Hey man ! I use a gr 2120 2013 my dad got from abbotstown Messiks. In abbotstown there is a neighborhood called summit ridge. Some of the hills there are unreal to use with a zero turn…

Love your work bro👍🏼

I love the cab on that mower with the A/C.

Lower tire pressure makes a difference. If you have a rops then buckle that seatbelt. If you start to lose traction lift the deck. puts more weight on your tires when its not resting on the deck wheels. If its wet forget the zero turn and break out the regular rider.

I second the GR2120. It is a Billygoat. Plus it's fast. Almost ZeroTurn speed but you won't die rolling down a hill. If you have a hilly property and you are creeped out by the slopes get a GR2120. I am shocked by how sure footed my GR2120 is on hills. I hope Kubota doesn't stop producing this tractor because it's a life saver.

That steeper section is about my entire 3.5 acres. I find the best option is a garden tractor with rear wheel weights and chains. I'm currently running the Husqvarna 2018 TS354XD and a 2011 Craftsman Exelerator GT both with weights and chains. Critical is to have a unit with at least Hydro Gear 730 or Tuff Torque K66, anything less on these hills will be dead in just a few hundred hours of use. Also, as hill use increases, hydraulic fluid service intervals must go shorter in time. I use 200 hours as my service internal.

awesome video!

Easier and safer with a garden tractor that you mentioned in a previous video is going away. Having the front steer tires helps with control. That’s one reason I went with that for my mower over a zero turn.

Hello Neil. Very good video and an excellent subject. I have had the sad experience of slipping down our black diamond hill with my tractor and z turn. Not a happy experience, was able to recover. I am comfortable somewhat mowing on ur hills but would not mow on anyone else's as I do not know the terrain. I think the biggest piece of advice is not to be in a hurry.

Great video

Mr.Messick , this is couldnt have come at any impecable time , i taught myself to use a rider mower and turned my flat yard into a 4 turn speed track , 1 thing i learned is dont mow your yard when the grass is wet instead wait for the yard to be 100% dry , this is due to the fact that wet grass is slippery and cause massive repercussion consequences , vs dry grass that is dry and sturdy and wont allow you to slide , the 2nd thing i learned from you sir is go up and down dont go sideways this is due to the fact that if i was to slide then its albsolute best i slide straight down the hill to the driveway then for me to slide side ways and suffer same fate your as your customer did , i just cant thank you enough for taking your time and teaching us now i know this im always gonna remain in straight up and down

Thank you for the video

What is the best model for significant slopes that you must mow cross hill. Can you do a video on a mower set up like that with all the options?

I have a lot of turf on hills steep hills, and winter snow on a long steep driveway. I bought a ventrac.

I like the advice to "favor the downhill wheel"... I have a very steep hilly property and just bought a riding Husqvarna 24/48, and I've seen yard crews race Along my hillside, not up and down. What I rationalized in my head, how to break out of a downhill slip, is to realize that the weight of the vehicle flies to the outside of the turn. So if you're riding along the face (not up and down) with your left wheels on the low side, a hard left is your safe way to go... the weight of the vehicle will be shifted toward the uphill side (by centrifugal force) and that will help right the mower and keep it from a left rollover. If you were to turn your wheels hard Right instead, the centrifugal force would throw your weight to the outside again, but this time the outside is the Downhill side, and you'll get rolled over by your machine. Sorry to say that I lost a very well-liked coworker to a rollover of one of his new toys... yeah, this is serious stuff. Thanks for the sound advice.

I have a BX2380 w/ belly mower and have to mow a couple ditches and a stream bank that always make me nervous. The ROPS gives me a little more confidence, but I really don't want to find out the hard way how effective it is. I've found that mowing with my front loader on feels a little more stable. It's kind of a pain to maneuver but brings the center of gravity down with the bucket just skimming above the grass. I also added wheel spacers. But still... not my favorite thing to do. I'd love to hear if you have any specific advice for mowing on hills with subcompacts.

Kubota sells the F series as a mower for hilly areas. Fitting chunky tyres would help mowing on hills too.

Thanks for the video Neil. I like the cab on your zero turn. Do they make one that fits the z726kw model?

Of course I can be a wise guy and say buy a Steiner or Ventrac and not worry about it. LOL Nice cab on the zero.

I have one that is too steep to cut either of the mentioned ways. I have to cut uphill going diagonally. Fortunately that option exist. I’m about to dig that hill out and build a wall removing the issue after 16 years.

I would mention that later in the summer when things dry up(Well, on a normal year, not like they have been lately) when you are chopping off mostly weeds and the grass is extremely dry, that dry grass can get pretty slick as well atleast with turf tires................Since I am not a yard nazi, I put R-1 Ag tires on my Toro Z-master Diesel, that will anchor you..............and when your done it will look like you tried to pull out a bunch of anchors as well if your not careful.

The only thing I saw throughout this video is the cab on the ZD1211. I want one for mine!

How to mow a steep hill: put up a fence and rent some goats. Years ago a family in church had a house built on a steep hill in which the very top of the driveway was literally 50 degrees. It was quite difficult in the winter and they used a lot of sand on it. Several years before they moved they had 3 goats named Snapper, Toro and Lawn Boy. I had a lawn service decades ago and some of the hills that people wanted me to mow were honestly too steep and dangerous. I pride myself in being very skilled in driving many things but I got tired of doing bids in which a customer showed me a steep hill that they wanted to be mowed and I eventually started telling them that hills too steep, I’m not mowing that even with a 21” walk behind, why don’t you just let the grass grow. It wasn’t worth an broken ankle or worse. A few customers got mad at me when I said that to them. But even when you are in it for a living sometimes you need to learn to say no.

Great video great conversation. We all get to relax and think it won't happen to me and then it doesn't. Like the cab on the Kubota that is awesome didn't know they made cabs for zero turns. Question I have a ferris z2 stander is there any kind of setup that helps on slopes on a stand on? My dealership did do anything or tell me anything just here's your mower have fun. It just seems like there's something that could be done to make it a little better but maybe not. Wish messicks was closer to me seems like a great dealership and is willing to go the extra mile.

tire filled with ballast is what I put on my mower. the added weight keep the rear planted and it will climb anything,

Buying our first lawn tractor in a few weeks and we have some slopes on our property, so this is HUGELY helpful. Thanks!

Use chains on drive wheels that are kept tight, also works!

Have you made a video or can you make one about that cab? That and any other zero turn cab options.

It's surprising the number of people who have to find these things out the hard way, especially wet grass. One thing I have found that works well for me on steeper sections of my property is mowing in reverse down hill. The weight of zero turn mowers and the larger rear wheel gives much better traction. I have an older neighbor who is in his 80s who has slid his zero turn down a very steep bank many times that end right into the road. He mows side to side over the edge every time and I'm just certain it will be his demise at some point. He's operated a lot of equipment over his life too and should know better but the lure of have everything mowed to perfection is just too great apparently. He's been told by a lot of people to not do it!

Had my GF 1800 slide down the hill a few times, it took more than that slope to have it happen

I cut my hill up and down but there is a part of my yard in front of my sunroom which I go up the hill AND THEN ride down the hill in reverse. I have to do this 4 times before I'm back on level ground once I'm back up the hill. My lawn guy thinks I will flip my mower cutting up and down the hill because its steep. I have a Toro SW4200 (steering wheel model). I does feel weird riding down the hill in reverse but my lot has about 15 feet of flat land before I get to the water. Is there a better way to cut my yard?

Hey Neil. Great video. Wish I lived near you. But I’m curious- when you have about an acre of hill that you have to mow side hill due to woods at bottom which is better- a zero turn, riding mower or sub compact tractor? Thank you in advance.

You need to do a K turn or a 3 point turn when mowing, your gonna chew up his yard.

Neil, could you recommend modifications for a GR2120 that would help with across the slope mowing? Thanks

Hi Neal, Very good information! BTW what is the purpose of the attached roof on your mower? I'm know I'm not saying it right but I'm not sure what it's called. I love it! I want to get one for my husband. He has an Exmark zero turn mower. Can you show a link as to where I could buy one of these? Thanks for all you do!

First time on a ZT, got a little too close to the edge of the top of a (luckily) short but steep bank. Also lucky that nothing got damaged. Dealers, make sure noobs understand one critical difference between a ZT and a rider: if a rider loses traction, it stops going forward... if a ZT loses traction, you're about to make an unexpected 90 degree turn, especially if traveling across a slope.

spinning wheels have more traction than sliding wheels. turn into the direction of your movement. also a wheelie kit could help

Thanks helped me Alot p.s I don't like the cab on zero turn lol nice machine though

My back area (1.5 acres) looks like this. Been using a GR for over 10 years…no issues. Zero turn will not work, down right scary. Just stepped up to a BX. Got a new learning curve as you set up higher but still have the all wheel drive. Have the rear wheel weights and are looking at spacers. Running a 54” deck. Thinking 2” on the spacers….suggestions?

It is very hard on the trans to mow up and down better to mow side to side.

I slipped down a hill today. Borrowed a mower with no brakes. Almost died!

Altoz tracked machines? 🤔

Are we going to ignore that his zero turn has a cab?!😳

Anyone else want to see a video about that mower setup?! I have never seen a zero turn with a cab!!

Best way to mow the side of a hill? 🐐. Plural.

Good talk. Now lets hear a bit about the cab on your zero turn!!!

Change your rear tires to bar tires.

I've got a hill that may be 50% steeper than that and somewhere around 1 acre, what then? Just been letting it grow...

Nice mower! AC??

👍👍

This is half of my property... So many hills.

Wait. A zero turn with cab and A/C?!! This machine needs a video!

neil, what do you think about people that put a liquid spayer on the folded rops of a zero turn mower? makes me personally cringe every time i see it =(

Ac mower nice

Need to tint that mower out

Is that the “pope mobile” ?

Dry is just as bad at least it is here where I'm from

Is that cab got aircon

So you got yourself one of those "air-conditioned space-ships" huh?

Ventrac. !

Is anyone not gonna talk about the fact that he has an enclosed cab with ac on a zero turn mower.

Sweet Jesus wasn’t expecting the death story. RIP

Tldr 2024 solution: robot mower

Need a device that attaches to the mower that can fire a spike or harpoon into the ground and stop you :) Maybe with a spring loaded reel so there's no sudden stop.

Just buy a zero turn like a Cub cadet ZTS1 designed to cut hills safely

Just buy a Cub Cadet ZTS steering wheel zero turn designed to cut hills safely

Meet cab, doesn’t it get hot in there?

That cab makes that zero turn look goofy has heck..I bet the AC is cold though.

Cub Cadet Steering Wheel Zero Turns. Just saying!

Stand up mower

Simple I would Just use a Weedwhacker 😂😂😂😂

That might be easy with a enclosed mower for the rich but what about the ones who don't have that and only have the regular person mower because as a landscaper I slide and slip and once you start sliding, good luck at that point you one of 2 options either jump the hell off or hold tf on for dear life there is no in between

Just send it

Or you can simply play it safe push mow the hillside or weed wack it your machine and life are too expensive!